PHILADELPHIA – Experts from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine are available to offer expert medical insight and commentary during the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver on issues ranging from the effects of performance enhancing drugs to concerns about the spread of novel H1N1, head trauma and more.

Pennsylvania Hospital primary care physician and Philadelphia Flyers team internist, Gary Dorshimer, MD, will travel to Vancouver to as an internal medicine consultant, treating NHL players playing for their respective national teams. He served in this same role at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City and at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano.

Highlighted experts include:

Head Trauma and Concussion

Douglas Smith, MD, professor of Neurosurgery and director of the Penn Center for Brain Injury and Repair is available to address risk factors for and medical problems resulting from traumatic brain injury. His laboratory’s research interests include investigating the biomechanical effects of traumatic brain injury, imaging techniques to diagnose injury, and the link between diffuse axonal injury and Alzheimer's disease.

Preventing the Spread of H1N1

Neil Fishman, MD, associate professor of Infectious Diseases; director of Healthcare Epidemiology, Infection Prevention & Control; president elect, Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America, has been working vigorously with Penn Medicine and city of Philadelphia officials to prevent unnecessary spread of H1N1.

Fishman has been a leader in the planning and distribution of the H1N1 vaccine, transmission of the virus, symptoms, management, prevention strategies, high-risk populations, and the go-to expert in the Philadelphia region.

He is available to discuss concerns about H1N1 before and during the Olympics, prevention strategies for athletes and spectators alike, as well as any concerns or related illnesses as they arise during the Olympics.

Michael Buckley, MD, chair, Department of Medicine & chief medical officer, Pennsylvania Hospital is also available for comment on H1N1 and seasonal flu treatment and prevention as well as additional concerns around infectious diseases, including HIV.

Dr. Tejvir S. Khurana is investigating ways to detect molecular signatures in blood and muscles to combat doping in sports, funded in part by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

New performance-enhancing drugs aim to artificially increase the concentration of red blood cells in the body so more oxygen is delivered to muscles than normal, which can significantly improve an athlete's endurance and performance.

Khurana and colleagues are studying how a mammal's physiology changes and what naturally triggers an increased red blood cell production at high altitudes.

Additional Penn Medicine Experts Available for Comment

University of Pennsylvania clinical and research experts are available for comment on a variety of topics. Interviews are able to be conducted via satellite uplink from the Penn campus.

Gary Dorshimer, MD, Internal Medicine. Will be traveling to Vancouver as an Internal Medicine consultant for the NHL. He served in the same role at the 1998 Nagano and 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics; team internist with the Flyers, Phantoms, Eagles, Kixx; consulting internist to the Pennsylvania Ballet.

Arthur R. Bartolozzi, MD, Director of Sports Medicine Programs at Pennsylvania Hospital. Treating world-class athletes in every sport, from wrestling to rowing, from the NHL to the NFL; former team physician for the Philadelphia Eagles, Flyers and Phantoms.

Justin Shaginaw, Manager of Sports Medicine and Fitness Programs at Pennsylvania Hospital.Assistant athletic trainer for the US Men's National Soccer Team; assistant athletic trainer/physical therapist for the Philadelphia Kixx of the Major Indoor Soccer League; former physical therapist for the Philadelphia Charge of the WUSA, Villanova, St Joseph’s and Temple University’s athletic departments; past rehabilitation consultant for the Philadelphia Wings of the National Lacrosse League; medical staff for the Philadelphia venue of the 2003 FIFA Women’s World Cup; worked national and international level soccer players, NFL, NBA, MISL/NPSL, WUSA, MLS, WTA, NLL and Olympic athletes; expert in injury prevention and ACL injuries, particularly in female athletes.

Wen Chao, MD/ Keith Wapner, MD, surgeon, Foot and Ankle surgeons at Pennsylvania Hospital. Dr. Chao operated on Allison Baver of Reading, PA, following a severe injury. Baver has since recovered and will complete on the US speed skating team at the Vancouver Olympics. Dr. Chao is the foot and ankle surgeon to the Pennsylvania Ballet. Dr. Wapner is President of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Surgeons (AAOFAS).

Samir Mehta, MD, Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, Chief, Division of Orthopaedic Trauma, is available to comment on achilles tendon ruptures and femur fractures to shattered pelvises and shoulders.

Tejvir S. Khurana, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Physiology, studies ways to detect molecular signatures in blood and muscles to combat doping in sports, funded in part by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

The Perelman School of Medicine has been ranked among the top five medical schools in the United States for the past 17 years, according to U.S. News & World Report's survey of research-oriented medical schools. The School is consistently among the nation's top recipients of funding from the National Institutes of Health, with $392 million awarded in the 2013 fiscal year.

The University of Pennsylvania Health System's patient care facilities include: The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania -- recognized as one of the nation's top "Honor Roll" hospitals by U.S. News & World Report; Penn Presbyterian Medical Center; Chester County Hospital; Penn Wissahickon Hospice; and Pennsylvania Hospital -- the nation's first hospital, founded in 1751. Additional affiliated inpatient care facilities and services throughout the Philadelphia region include Chestnut Hill Hospital and Good Shepherd Penn Partners, a partnership between Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network and Penn Medicine.

Penn Medicine is committed to improving lives and health through a variety of community-based programs and activities. In fiscal year 2013, Penn Medicine provided $814 million to benefit our community.